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Fencing to be installed around deep drainage

Dianne L Stallings, Ruidoso News
Published 1:07 p.m. MT Aug. 30, 2016

Temporary fencing should warn pedestrians and drivers or the danger of a deep drainage

A New Mexico Department of Transportation official says temporary fencing will be installed around this deep drainage on U.S. 70 until a permanent solution can be designed to protect pedestrians.(Photo: Dianne Stallings/Ruidoso News)

Story Highlights

Temporary fencing will be installed around a deep drainage area at the intersection of U.S. 70 and Sudderth Drive traffic light until a more permanent safety solution is designed, an official with the District 2 office of the New Mexico Department of Transportation said.

“I am looking at it from a vehicle perspective, if a vehicle potentially could fall in there,” Francisco Sanchez, DOT District 2 traffic engineer, said Thursday. “I took some measurements. I will evaluate it and go back and go through our engineering standards and guidelines to see if a barrier would be needed for vehicles.

“But the department’s concern is more for pedestrians, the potential (that during) a big rain event, a pedestrian or young child may fall in there and be injured.”

As a prevention, the department will bring in some temporary fencing, which will serve in the interim until a permanent fencing can be designed and installed, he said.

“It was deepened to improve the capacity and now you can see the elevation difference (created) to improve the drainage,” Sanchez said. “At the time of construction, there probably was netting around there for some kind of visual.”

As for the overall problem with drainage along U.S. 70 in that area the, district officials are putting together a plan to address problems within the DOT right of way, he said.

“It’s been surveyed to determine our plan of action,” Sanchez said. “Right now, our focus is upstream by K-Bobs, where the plan is fully surveyed and detailed. We’re trying to get maintenance funding to take care of that drainage near K-Bobs and then work our way down toward that drainage structure by the light.”